Win over Cruzeiro in Copa do Brasil ends Corinthians' poor run

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Central do Timão

·12 December 2025

Win over Cruzeiro in Copa do Brasil ends Corinthians' poor run

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the night of last Wednesday (10), Corinthians went to the Mineirão Stadium to face Cruzeiro in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil semifinals and won 1-0. Forward Memphis Depay, midway through the first half, scored the goal for Corinthians. In the return match, the Alvinegro only needs a draw to advance to the tournament final.

In addition to the victory, the club from Parque São Jorge returned to winning ways after four games without a win this season. Previously, their last triumph had been on November 20. On that day, Corinthians hosted São Paulo at the Neo Química Arena and defeated their rival 3-1, with two goals from Yuri Alberto and one from Memphis Depay, in the 34th round of the national competition.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Since then, Corinthians had drawn two matches (Botafogo and Juventude) and lost two others (Cruzeiro and Fortaleza), all in the Brazilian Championship. This sequence of results was the team's second worst of the season, as between May and July, the Corinthians squad—already under Dorival Júnior—went four matches without a win.

That sequence included three draws (Atlético-MG, Vitória, and Grêmio – Brasileirão) and two defeats (Hurácan, from Argentina – Copa Sudamericana, and RB Bragantino – Brasileirão). Corinthians will return to the pitch next Sunday (14), at 6:00 pm (Brasília time), to face Cruzeiro in the second leg of the Copa do Brasil semifinals.

In the current edition of the tournament, the Alvinegro has already eliminated Novorizontino (third round), Palmeiras (round of 16), and Athletico-PR (quarterfinals), scoring seven goals and conceding none, with a 100% success rate. Three-time champions of the tournament (1995, 2002, and 2009), Corinthians is seeking to win the competition again after 16 years. In that period, the team was runner-up twice (2018 and 2022) and reached the semifinals twice (2023 and 2024).

Check out below the end of Corinthians' winless streak this season:

1) Cruzeiro 3 x 0 Corinthians – 11/23/2025 – 35th round Brasileirão

2) Corinthians 2 x 2 Botafogo – 11/30/2025 – 36th round Brasileirão

3) Fortaleza 2 x 1 Corinthians – 12/03/2025 – 37th round Brasileirão

4) Corinthians 1 x 1 Juventude – 12/07/2025 – 38th round Brasileirão

5) Cruzeiro 0 x 1 Corinthians – 12/10/2025 – First Leg Copa do Brasil Semifinal

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